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Lesson 8

We will continue to explore the question, “Who is Alexander Hamilton?” We will listen to three songs from Act 2 of Hamilton: An American Musical and will work in groups to create a timeline of Hamilton’s life based on the events in the musical so far.

Lesson Goals

  • Can I summarize what is happening in the first part of Act 2 of Hamilton: An American Musical?

  • Can I identify different characters and how they relate to the plot?

  • Can I work productively in various roles with other participants?

Texts

Core

  • Tradebook
    • Hamilton: The Revolution, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter, Grand Central, 2016
  • Multimedia
    • Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording), Lin-Manuel Miranda, Atlantic, October 16, 2015

Optional

  • Multimedia
    • Hamilton, Thomas Kail, Walt Disney Studios, 2020

Materials

Tools

Question Sets

Editable Google Docs

Activity 1: Listen – Read

We will read the lyrics and listen to the songs “Blow Us ALL Away,” “Stay Alive,” and “It’s Quiet Uptown.”

Listen to and read the lyrics of the songs "Blow Us All Away," "Stay Alive," and "It's Quiet Uptown."

Add responses to your Act 2 Notice and Wonder Note-Taking Tool to track your observations, thoughts, and questions in the correct section. As you do this, think about the following questions:

  1. What major plot events happen in these songs?

  2. What new information have you gained about Alexander Hamilton?

With a partner, share your observations, thoughts, and questions.

Activity 2: Read – View

We will view and discuss the songs “Blow Us All Away,” “Stay Alive,” and “It’s Quiet Uptown” from the filmed stage production of Hamilton.

View the songs "Blow Us All Away," "Stay Alive," and "It's Quiet Uptown" from the filmed stage production of Hamilton. Refer to the lyrics in Hamilton: The Revolution book as needed.

While watching, add responses to your Act 2Notice and Wonder Note-Taking Tool in the appropriate sections to track your observations, thoughts, and questions for each song and its scene. Think about the following questions:

  1. What new characters are you introduced to in these songs?

  2. What new events are you introduced to in these songs?

  3. What new information have you gained about Alexander Hamilton?

  4. What else do you learn about the characters from their movement, facial expressions, gestures, and interactions with other characters in these scenes?

  5. How does the staging of these scenes impact your understanding of the events and characters in the musical?

In a whole-class discussion, share your observations first, your thoughts second, and your questions last.

Activity 3: Write

We will write an objective summary about what has happened in Act 2 of Hamilton: An American Musical.

Write an objective summary about what has happened from "Blow Us All Away" to "It's Quiet Uptown." Use evidence from the text to support your response.

Trade summaries with your partner. Read your partner’s summary, and make notes in the margin that address the following questions:

  1. Does the summary accurately identify the central idea of Act 2 and provide details that develop the central idea?

  2. Does the summary present the details objectively, or does the summary include personal feelings and opinions?

  3. Does the summary contain relevant evidence from the text?

Give your partner one piece of advice to address one of the questions above.